Josh Hazlewood returned to the nets on Tuesday as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the opening Ashes Test in Perth. Pat Cummins also stepped up his comeback bid, bowling with a pink ball to signal his intent to feature in the day-night Test at the Gabba. Both fast bowlers trained at Cricket Central in Sydney while New South Wales played Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield. Hazlewood worked with the red ball, suggesting his sights are set on a later Test. He is unlikely to be ready for Brisbane, with Adelaide reverting to a day Test this year, shaping as his most realistic return. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday that Hazlewood will play a part in the series, though his exact comeback will depend on how he progresses through early rehab phases. Cummins, meanwhile, has steadily increased his bowling workload in recent weeks. He impressed in the nets ahead of the first Test in Perth, but selectors will only approve his return if he can handle the physical demands of a full match. McDonald noted that Cummins' intensity and pace were promising, but stressed the need to build soft-tissue resilience to avoid rushing his comeback. The Ashes schedule offers some breathing space early on, with an 11-day gap between the Perth and Brisbane Tests. However, it becomes more demanding from Adelaide onwards, with only four days separating the second and Boxing Day Tests and another four before the Sydney Test, assuming matches go the distance. With the pink-ball format returning for Brisbane, another quick finish is possible. In the ongoing Sheffield Shield round, ten wickets fell in a single night session between Queensland and Victoria, fast-tracking the match dramatically. Conditions at the Gabba could produce similar movement. Xavier Bartlett stood out in that fixture, taking 4 for 35 in the second innings along with a career-best 72. While Australia may not require additional pace options if Cummins and Hazlewood return, Bartlett’s strong domestic and white-ball performances have boosted his case. Michael Neser, the reserve seamer in Perth, also remains an option on his home ground. Selectors continue to track Jhye Richardson’s comeback from shoulder surgery as well. Richardson bowled 20 wicketless overs for the Cricket Australia XI against England Lions after training with the Test squad in Perth, and is expected to feature for Australia A in Brisbane next week. He said the outing was mainly about building physical readiness, adding that his shoulder feels progressively stronger with each spell.